Cranes are both impressive and efficient on the job site, but, unfortunately, they also have the potential to be extremely dangerous. You can get run over by one. The load it’s carrying can fall on top of you or the crane can topple over and crush you. You can get […]

View complete article here. When operating cranes and other weight-handling equipment the potential for property damage or serious injury always lingers. If a specific job is being conducted with improper equipment or without a crucial accessory the likelihood of property loss or bodily harm to workers is magnified. To avoid […]

When conducting both ordinary and critical lifts, an operator and signal person must be familiar with all crane or hoist operating characteristics and related safety rules. While general practices vary based on the circumstances of each lift, some standards always hold true. Regardless of lift type, the most important step […]

Proper utilization and inspection of shackles, eyebolts, hooks, and clips is of high importance when moving sizable loads. The following article provides operating guidelines and inspection-related overviews of these common rigging components, along with a review of hoists and general terminology. Shackles  Manufactured in anchor and chain configurations for rigging […]

For prospective riggers and operators, an understanding of how to properly use slings and identify sling deficiencies during pre-use inspections is paramount. Because slings typically handle loads under less than ideal circumstances, and in conjunction with equipment of varying ages, extreme caution should always be exercised during their use. Adherence […]

Heavy machinery can be one of the most costly investments for a contractor, so proper maintenance of such equipment is vital to ensuring a maximum return on investment—not to mention the fact that the extra care increases both production and profit on individual construction jobs. After all, if your heavy […]

TransCanada recently received approval from the U.S. government to construct and operate a $3.4 billion cross-border section of the Keystone XL pipeline. The line would consist of more than 1,200 miles of 36-inch diameter pipe that would carry crude oil from Hardisty, Alberta to Steele City, Nebraska. The first U.S. […]

Cranes, loaders, and other heavy equipment routinely perform arduous tasks and get exposed to significant risks during operation and transportation, increasing the likelihood of damage and accidents. For contractors, the replacement of expensive, frequently utilized equipment is a major problem that can delay projects and drain a firm’s finances if […]

The conclusion of pile installation operations does not signal a project’s end, as the loading, transportation, and storing of the rig and other equipment remains to be finished. The efficiency and success of these final steps, like the other aspects of a job, are largely the result of detailed pre-planning […]

When operators at the nation’s tallest dam discovered a sizable section of missing concrete along its 178-foot-wide main spillway earlier this month, they did what most would assume they would do – slow the flow of water down the chute. During this reduction, the water level of Northern California’s Lake […]